Rusty could have won. Stewart could have won. That shredded guy (was it paco?) probably hsould have won.
Bob was the best saleable bodybuilder that day. Remember the camera staying on him for 5 static minutes as they changed things onstage? It was definitely more of a coronation than a hard-fought bodybuilding show. Rusty killed him on lines and posing, Stewart killed him on thickness, paco (?) killed him on legs and muscularity. bob was the vanilla choice for champion - just good enough in all areas to win it. nobody 'knocked him out', and he was the defending champ, as the best known name in the show.